Platen



June 2, 1925'.

F. C. VA NDERGRIFT PLATEN Filed oct. 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jane 2, 1925,. 1,539,881

' F. C. VANDERGRIFT PLATEN Filed oct, 23., 1924l 2 sheets-sheetl 2 i? A -H- W f Patented June 2, 1925. i

UNITED STATES 1,539,887 PATENT certes..

FRANK C. VANDERGRIFT, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLIAMS FOUNDRY & MACHINE COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO;

PLATEN Application led October- 23, 1924'. Serial No. 745,315.

To all whom it mag/concern: p Be it known that I, FRANK C. VANDER- enrn'i, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inl Platens, of which `the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates toplatens for power presses, such as are used in the vulcanizing or curing of rubber, and more especially to steel platens as distinguished from the cast iron variety which are used at the resent time almost exclusively because o the difficulties heretofore encountered in the manufacture of highly efficient and successful steel platens.

The invention also has todo with the method of p1 oducing the platen.

As is well known to those familiar with the manufacture of rubber articles, power presses, such as pressure-fluid or hydraulic presses, equipped with a series of 'platens.

that are movable toward and from each other between the head and the ram of the press, are used for heating or cooling the molds by placing the molds between the platens, pressing the Aplatens and molds together, and circulating a heating or cool-4 mg medium through the platens.

The objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a comparatively thin and correspondingly light platen which is highly efficient, strong and durable and wherein the heating or`cooling medium is thoroughly distributed throughout the area of the heat exchanging surfaces;

Second, to provide a platen of the foregoing character that is comparatively simple and cheap of manufacture;

Third, to provide a platen comprised of sections having interengaging parts which interlock in such manner as to very effectively bind the parts together: and

Fourlh, to provide a. method of produc ing a platen characterized bv the feature last above mentioned.

Further objects. and advantages accruing from my improved construction, will appear as l proceed to describe the invention in detail. reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a plan View of the platen with a part of the upper section broken away; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional details on the respective lines 3*?) and 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the separated sections of the platen and illustrates the method of assembly.

illVhile the platen may be made in various.

shapes best adapted to" the purposes for which they are to be used, I have selected as an illustration an annular platen such as may be employed in presses for curing tire beads in either' endless ring or spiral bead molds.

The platen is comprised of two sections designated l and 2, and these are preferably formed of rolled steel plate and machined to effect on section l a peripheral-rib 3 and a rib 4 that is spaced inwardly from the former rib a suitable distance and is concentrictherewith. It will be noted, especially by reference to the enlarged section, shown in Fig. 3, that the inner sides or edges of these flanges are undercut perceptibly. The section 2 is formed with a rib 5 about its inner edge, a rib 6 that is spaced inwardly a suitable distance from its outer edge, and an intermediate rib 7 which divides the channel or passageway 8 between the ribs 5 and 6 into two circumferential ducts that intercommunicate through cutaway portions or openings 9 in the rib 7. It will be noted that theouter sides or edges of the ribs 5 and 6 are formed complementary to the inner sides or edges of the ribs 3 and 4 so that when the sections are brought together in a manner hereinafter described there is an actual interlocking similar to a dove-tail connection between the engaging ribs of the two sections.

The sections are formed in the original instance of a size to snugly fit together as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and preparatory to assembling these sections. section 1 is heated sufficiently (to approximately 1000` F.), and is applied to the section 2'while'the latter is cold. Upon a subsequent cooling of sect ion 1. it shrinks about the ribs of Section 2 andthe parts `are vthus very effectively and securely bound together. In use, the sections are of substanti ally like temperature at all times nd consequently there is no danger of the connection between the sections becoming loose.

To further bind' the parts together. and more particularly to insure against leakage,

- Through one o way 8 and interrupts 'its eircum erentialcontinuity. Ports 13 and`14 lead through the side of the platen into the opposite ends of the passageway 8, and are fitted for the connectlon o pifpes 15 and 16, respectively.

these pipes, 15 for example, heating or cooling fluid, such as steam or water, is conducted to the fluid diffusing eway 8, the same flowing enspace or passagl n tlr'ely about t epassageway and escapmg f through theother pipe.

'y enclosin mlet an Aand a second section complementary to the former rib and where-v Thekplaten --is provided with a suitable number of earsL 17, havin openings 18 throu h which the guide ro s of the press exten and with notches 19 for the' usual spacer bolts, all of which is in accordano with common practice.

Having .thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A platen of the class described comprisin .-two sections enclosing between thema fluld diffusing space having an inlet and an outlet, the sections bein formed with integral parts which inter ock and bind the' sections together, the joint' between the edgesof the sections being brazed or welded. 2. A platen of the class described comprising two sections having interlocking peri heral ribs which bind the sections toget er and enclose, with the body portionsof the sections, a fluid diffusing space, said space having an inletand a`n outletfthe joint between the edges of the sections being brazed or welded. 4 3. A platen of the class described comprising a section having a peripheral rib' the inner side whereof converges in a direction laway from `the body plortion of the section,

aving a rib which is with said former rib interlocks, the sectionsI a fluid diffusing space `having 'an an outlet.

4.A platen of the class described com )rising a' section having a rib extending a out it, the inner side o f said rib being undercut,

a second section having a portion embraced by said rib, the surface of said .part wherewith the rib engages being formed complementary to the inner side of the'rib, the sections enclosing a fluid diffusing space havinglan inlet and an outlet. l

- 5. A platenof the'class described comprising a plate formed with a rib extending about; its edge, the inner side of the rib being undercut, a second plate having a rib spaced inwardly from its edge and the outer side of which is undercut, Athe rib of thc former plate snugly embracing the rib of the second mentioned plate thereby to bind the plates together, the .'plates enclosing between them a fluid diffusing spacehaving an ilet andan outlet. y

6. A platen of the class described comprising two plates having open centers, one plate sides of the former ribs, t e ribs of the first mentioned plate snugly embracing those vof the second mentioned plate thereb to bind the plates together, the plates enc osing between them a fluid diffusing space having an inlet and an outlet.

7. A platen of the class described comprising two annular plates, the first having a peripheral rib and a rib spaced outwardly a suitable distance from itsinner edge, the 'second plate having a rib extending about its i ner edgeand another spaced inwardly friom its outer edge, one of said plates being formed with an intermediate rib which extends toward the opposed surface of the other plate, the inner sides of the ribs of the firstmentioned plate and the outer sides 'ofthe ribs of the second mentioned late being undercut, said ribs of the two p ates interenga-ging to bind the plates tofrether, the outer`- rib of the second mentioned plate and the inner rib of the first mentioned plate, together with the intermediate bod portions of said plates, enclosing a fluid di fusing space, the platen. having inlet' and outlet ports opening into said space. 8. A platen of the class described lcomprising two annular plates having ribs extendthe class described lw iichl consists in forming a 'plate with a rib, and another with a part adapted to be embraced by the rib, )eating the.first plate to expand it with respect to the second, applying it to the second, and allowing it to cool and thus contract its rib about the aforesaid part of the second plate.

15 rib adjacentits inner edge the inner sur- 10. The method of producing a platen of the class described, which consists in forming a plate with a rib extending about it, the inner side whereof is undercut, and forming another plate with a part adapted. to be embraced by, and whiclris complementary to, said rib, heating the first plate to expand it with respect to the second, applying it to the second, and allowinfr it to cool and thus contract its rib about tlle aforesaid part of the second plate.

1l. The method of producing a platen of the class described which consists in forming an annular plate with a peripheral rib and a faces of which ribs converge in a direction away from the body portion of the plate, forming a second annular plate with a rib about its inner edge and another spaced in- Wardly from its outer edge, the outer suryfaces of which ribs diverge in a direction away vfrom the body portion of the plate, llating the first mentioned plate so as to expand it with respect to the second, applying it to the second, and allowing it to cool and contract thereby to interlock its ribs with the ribs of the second plate.

In' testimony whereof, I hereunto atlix my signature.

FRANK C. VANDERGRIFT. 

